BBC criticised over its “extraordinary” decision to give extremist preacher
Anjem Choudary a platform to attack "British values” during discussion
about the murder of Drummer Lee Rigby.

The BBC used licence payers’ money to ferry hate preacher Anjem Choudary to its studios where he was allowed to spout his “poisonous narrative” over the murder of Drummer Lee Rigby, it can be revealed.

The founder of the banned extremist group, Al-Muhajiroun, was given 12 minutes of airtime yesterday morning on Radio 4’s flagship Today Programme, during which he again refused to condemn the savage killing in Woolwich, south London.

Prime Minister David Cameron denounced Mr Choudary’s views as “absolutely despicable and appalling” and said he represented a “minority of a minority”.

But despite widespread condemnation of his views, the BBC insisted it had been correct to allow the extremist a platform on one of its most iconic programmes.

And it has now emerged that the Corporation even provided transport to collect Mr Choudary from his home and deliver him to the central London studio from where Today is broadcast.

A spokesman refused to say whether Mr Choudary would have received any payment for his appearance, but sources said it was policy to provide transport for guests on news programmes.

The interview was conducted by presenter John Humphrys, but Mr Choudary repeatedly ignored calls to express his condemnation over the terrorist murder, and used the time instead to attack British and American foreign policy in the Middle East.

At one point he said he did not believe in democracy, but insisted he had every right to stay in Britain because it was where he had been born and brought up.

Mr Cameron, speaking at the end of an EU summit in Brussels, said: “This is an absolutely classic case of that poisonous narrative of extremism and violence. We must defeat it by demonstrating what a minority view it is.”

Asked about whether Mr Choudary should have been interviewed on the Today programme, he said that was a matter for the BBC.

He added: “It is actually important that we make sure these views are properly examined and then properly trashed for all to see. He is a minority of a minority of a minority and should be treated as such.”

But other politicians, from all sides, hit out at the Corporation’s decision to broadcast the interview, with some even suggesting there was a “cultural problem” within the BBC.

John Spellar, the Labour MP for Warley said: “I find it quite extraordinary that someone who is so hostile to British values and so unrepresentative of the Muslim community is endlessly given space by the BBC.

“Their idea of balance seems to be Anjem Choudary and somebody from the BBC and mainstream voices get excluded. The worst thing is that they probably even think that it made good radio.”

He added: “I believe in a public service broadcaster. I just wish that [the BBC] would have a greater regard for their public. This is a cultural problem inside parts of the BBC.”

Left wing veteran Diane Abbot also hit out at the decision to allow Mr Choudary on the radio.

Writing on Twitter she said: “I am a big believer in free speech. Opposed the war in Iraq etc But WHY give airtime to Anjem Choudary!”

The Muslim Council of Britain, which has strongly condemned the Woolwich murder, also criticised the BBC for giving Mr Choudary the “oxygen of publicity”.

A spokesman for the group said: “This was a dishonourable act and no cause justifies cold-blooded murder. Mr Choudary is a self-serving publicity seeker and the BBC was unwise to give him so much airtime, unchallenged.

“He relies on the oxygen of publicity to influence impressionable young people at the margins of society.”

A spokesman for the BBC denied accusations of “lazy journalism” and insisted a great deal of consideration had gone into carrying view points from across the political spectrum.

The spokesman said: “We have a responsibility to both report on the story and try to shed light on why it happened.

“We believe it is important to reflect the fact that such opinions exist and feel that Choudary’s comments may offer some insight into how this crime came about.

“His views were robustly challenged by both the presenter, John Humphrys and by Lord Carlile, the government’s former anti-terrorism adviser.”

However while Mr Choudary was on air for more than 12 minutes, Lord Carlile was given less than four minutes to respond.